KevL

Glad it's all sorted and thanks for updating us.

You should be able to get a Yamaha F310 for a touch over £100. Whilst nothing can be guaranteed, there's a good chance the Yamaha will be that bit better value-for-money than something that's costs just a few pounds less: it should be well-finished and will probably play quite well straiht out of the box and also sound half-decent. Worth considering if you are buying online. If your friend decides that guitar is not for him, he'll hopefully get a reasonable amount back for the Yamaha. Edit: Also budget for a tuner (unless you can len him one?), packet of spare strings, a few picks. Also maýbe a stand so the guitar is out and handy to grab and play (and prevent it falling over). Look at justinguitar for lessons, get the basics nailed!

Can you send a 'test email' from another address enquiring about, say, purchasing a bass from them and see if they reply?

I'm The Urban Spaceman BDD-DB

On Broadway The Drifters

The Winker's Song (Misprint) Ivor Biggun Beaten by @xgsjx but still works, I think.

Down In The Tube Station At Midnight The Jam

Fire The Crazy World ...

I don't know why the Strat was the only export model to get the US pickups and the Telecaster and basses were given Japanese pickups.

A few people claim the first run 'Fender' branded JVs are a touch better. I've seen a couple of later Squiers that have had less-than-perfect fit and finish details but I think it's a case of taking each one on its own merit, don't generalise. The pickups for your Precisions would have been Japanese and the 82 (Fender) could well have originally been slightly different to your 83 Squier - the retrofitted one could possibly have differed again, there was a fair bit of inconsistency. 'Squier Series' was only on the first run Fender logo models, it then changed to 'Squier by Fender'. I'm sure this is what you meant. I'm not intending to be an ar$€ by writing this, just providing clarity (of an already confusing subject) for anyone doing reasearch.

I didn't know this about the dot neck. I think that's about where these Fender Squier Series are now: I was offered a Precision last year for £1350 but wasn't sure how original the pickguard was so I gave it a miss. That's it, there's too much out there now, not just from Fender with its umpteen ranges and models The JV stood out at the time due to less competition (ironically, less from Fender USA itself). Yes, there will be a few models from various brands that will gain a bit of a following but I can not see anything having the impact and effect of the JVs. I think that's the thing to do nowadays, just buy something you like and play it. Don't try and chase some hype or try and create a myth about a brand or model. I enjoy my G&Ls, I love the history and ethos of their creation but I just enjoy owning them and don't expect to get rich if I ever sold them. Thanks for an interesting reply. Kev

Easy for people to get confused (or to intentionally confuse others if you are selling) with the various ranges and specs but 21frets.com is the best place to check what's what - I wouldn't call it mythology, though. I wasn't trying to write a complete guide to JVs in my long-winded post (although it may have seemed like that) and I'm no expert, just a bit of a fan. Re the pickups, though, it was just the export Squier Strats that had USA pickups (of a few varieties) - I had a late 1983 JV Strat with the commonest pickups with the yellow C and C2 markings. The export Telecaster and basses had Japanese pickups. For domestic models, which had both Fender and Squier brandings, then best to look at 21frets. Do your homework if you are planning to buy any JV! You are correct with the prices, there's no reason why the JVs should be priced relatively lower than other Fenders, they are great instruments. The 'Fender Squier Series' branded first run export JVs will always be that bit more sought after due to rarity even though they are identical to the 'Squier by Fender' that were made a month or two afterwards - I think it's more the case that Squier JVs have caught up with the market and seen a jump in price. The 'Fender' first run are priced (a few hundred more?) for the collecters market, I think. You mention scarcity of these first run JVs but I think all JVs have become increasingly sought-after: the number of people learning about them and looking for one has increased (see previous comments on this thread about the internet-effect) but there aren't any more JVs being made to meet this increased demand.

These Mexican Road Worns may be the range that I was trying to think of (mentioned near the end of my first post).

Yes, it's in the interest of any seller to try and increase the desirability of his guitar. The same for owners, even though they may not be intending to sell at the time. I would say that this has always gone on, it's just that the internet has enabled the word to spread further and faster than the days of magazine articles etc.

Before suggesting the next big thing to be snapping up, I put down a few thoughts as to why I think the JVs have become what they are. The success of the Squier JV Series was the result of a few things that are unlikely to occur now. They were made to a high standard in terms of materials (good wood was the norm, US pickups, decent hardware etc), construction (the Japanese had shown the standard of guitars they could make, Dan Smith played that to his advantage), accuracy (the Japanese pretty much made the instruments exactly as per the year being copied), no really limiting budget (these were a main product for Fender whilst the US production was getting sorted out). The JVs were recognised at the time as being good guitars (although not every one is outstanding, I've seen some with less-than-svelte cutaways, for example) and whilst they have always been respected and quietly-collectible, I think the increase in collectability - and, therefore, price - is really down to the internet. At first, this would have been genuine enthusiasts happily sharing their love of the instruments and history (21frets, planetbotch etc) but in the last few years it seems everybody is after 'the next thing' (not just basses or musical instruments) that has a bit of a story, maybe some myth and certainly has to be 'vintage' - this last now seems to feature in pretty much every sales ad for, er...anything. The JVs do have all these qualities, together with the actual quality-of-product to back it up. There were also just enough made to establish their reputation and make them accessible but not too many made, thus keeping them desirable. They also were made at just the right time for those who couldn't afford one then to satisfy their longing now, and those who weren't even born in the early-mid 80s to be able to see what the fuss was about, although the recent price rises may preclude some hopeful buyers. Although this has turned into a long sprawl about JVs, I wanted to show that I think they were the result of unusual and unique circumstances that won't occur again. The Chinese Squier CV (especially the first runs?) do have some similarities - most obviously the Squier name - but you can be certain that Fender will have built them strictly to a budget (no US pickups here, for example) and would not have had to make them top-quality as they already had their Mexican, US and Custom Shop ranges to sell, unlike when the JVs were made. This is not to be taken that they are poor guitars but I do think that they have been subjected to a little internet-hype. Could other basses/guitars be the next JVs? The Japanese basses of the late 70s and early 80s (Greco, Burny etc.those that caused Dan Smith to turn to Japan for the Squier manufacturing) are already well-known with prices increasing. Ibanez from that era are well-respected but just not as well-known as Fender/Squier and will probably not gain a massive following. My favourite brand, G&L (particularly the original Leo Fender era) always seem to remain niche, I think any massive increase in demand and price would have happened by now. Staying on that brand, I have noticed that the early Tribute series by G&L seem to get a lot of praise so may be ones to look out for (cue prices going up...,) but, as mentioned, they will always suffer from just being generally less well-known than the Big F. Another suggestion for a future collectable: the Fender Mexican Classic with the nitro finish, I think it was made within the last few years - not sure of the exact name or years but I vaguely remember there was one or two versions that seemed more sought-after than the rest. Happy for any corrections to any of the above as I've written from memory so may be out with a couple of the JV details.

The Wombling Song The Wombles

His playing is excellent on many of The Specials' songs but I think the best example is Too Much Too Young from their eponymous debut album (note that the single version is quite different).

The Battle of Evermore The Zep

Back In The Night Dr Feelgood

It's A Mystery Toyah

The Cat Crept In Mud

Mama Told Me Not To Come Three Dog Night (Same songs I linked on Mark and Lard's The Chain feature about 13 years ago).

Dreaming Blondie